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Evaluating Abreu

Things we know about Bobby Abreu:

- Poor fielder

- Only one of the "big three" to not suffer a poor season recently.

- Declining walk and strikeout rates the past two seasons.

- Historically high BABIPs. That's fine, because he still hits the hell out of the ball, more than 20% line drives every season since 2002.

- Excellent plate discipline

- Doesn't pop Red Bulls or answer doors naked.

0 recs  |  Comment 33 comments |

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Even More On Bobby Abreu

Jan 2009 by Tommy Rancel - 10 comments

More DH Talk

Jan 2009 by R.J. Anderson - 14 comments

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things i like about Abreu comapred to Burrell, Giambi, and Dunn

-can still steal bases (22 SB, 11 CS last season)
-had highest batting average total, ba vs. righties, and ba vs. lefties last season

by RayOfLight on Jan 4, 2009 5:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

*can bat 2nd

still a position in our lineup that isnt solidified and is important since we have 3-5 in the lineup locked down

by Rays4242 on Jan 4, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

What if...

Andruw Jones does get release from LA and is available for only the minimum. He’s better defensively than anyone else available and if he returns to the Andruw of old he’d be a steal. We could still sign Burrell to DH and let Joyce get more time down in Durham. If it doesn’t work out, we can always call Joyce up and let Jones go.

www.citadel-insurance.com

by SeanDubbs on Jan 4, 2009 6:05 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Abreu

is probably the best all around player of the bunch. Hits for high average, OBP, steals bases, can “play” the outfield, not an injury risk. I just wish he hit for more power. His age is somewhat of a risk, but a 2 year deal shouldnt be bad.

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 4, 2009 6:12 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

He's rising on my wish list and he's a safe signing.

With the addition of Matt Joyce, he shouldn’t see the OF at all. Abreu the DH is just fine with me. I just rather see if we could get Burrell first and then move on to Abreu f we can’t. All signs point to Giambi going to the A’s and Dunn to the Nats, so it could really come down to Abreu or Burrell.

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 4, 2009 6:19 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Further

His 22 stolen bases were actually his lowest since 03. Usually averages 30 SB a year. Would fit in nicely with Upton, Crawford, Abreu, and Bartlett all 30+ SB threats.

Also, while his HR numbers have never been amazing, he is seemingly always good for 40+ doubles every year. Somwhere between a .450 and .500 SLG%.

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 4, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

hell

a .450-.500 slugging might be conservative given his consistency.

I think Abreu, if he doesn’t come at a higher price than the other two, is the best option quite frankly.

by Navi's_Navy on Jan 4, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

He would bring closure also

On that whole Kevin Stocker mess.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 4, 2009 6:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Still one of my all-time pet peeves...

Not directed at you, more of a rant…

Sure it was a bad move, but…

1) Astros left him unprotected. Why aren’t they blamed?
2) The Diamondbacks passed up on him several times.

More irritating, if the Rays are blamed for Stocker, how are they also blamed for Josh Hamilton. Using the Stocker logic, the Cubs should be the ones suffering from Hamilton and not the Rays.

by tallyray on Jan 4, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

It annoyed me also, for a dif reason

That we kept hearing about it but didn’t the Marlins let Johan f’n Santana unprotected? Stocker sucked but we got more than the Marlins got for Santana at least.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 4, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't realize Marlins picked him...

And now this just adds more irritation.

by tallyray on Jan 4, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

We arent the Marlins, Astros or D-Backs

Thats why it never irritated me. I coudl careless what they do wrong. We sucked for years and had no talent, and everyone knew we had that hack Stocker over Abreu. It only kept getting brought up because we never had players that made you forget about it. You always said “man our team sucks remember we traded Stocker for Abreu that looks REALLY bad right now”. The fact that Arizona and Houston screwed the pooch wasnt relevant to me

by Rays4242 on Jan 4, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I think it is legitimate to criticize LaMar for that deal

because it made no sense at the time. This was a new team that needed to stockpile young talent, not deal it for mediocrity (at best). I know their argument was that young pitchers needed a top flight shortstop behind them, but Stocker never was that, and in any case, that would still not have justified dealing Abreu for him. Abreu was exactly the kind of young talent TB had to treasure not because he turned into a good player but because he might have done so, it was known at the time he had skills and tools and the object should have been to acquire as many of that sort of players as possible.

It is true that Abreu was an unknown quantity at the time and that the Astros had apparently rushed a bit in souring on him. On the other hand they had 22 year old Richard Hidalgo on hand, had just won the division as they would the next two years and even if they turned out to be wrong it still was not equivalent to the Devil Rays simply ignoring his potential. Whether other teams also made a mistake is not the issue. To me the issue is that the Devil Rays had him and threw him away which demonstrated a lack of understanding of what they needed to do to build a competitive team.

by bobr on Jan 4, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

agreed

and other teams mistakes didnt justify our mistakes. Very good points, it was bad process with bad results which = what again rj? ; )

by Rays4242 on Jan 4, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Anyway, the comments have altered my thinking some

I am including Adam Dunn.

1. Bobby Abreu – Well at least it wouldn’t be like watching Eric Hinske if Abreu had to play the field, he has a good, consistent bat and some wheels
2. Pat Burrell – Lefties killed us in 08, he kills lefties
3. Adam Dunn – Doesn’t help that lefty issue but you KNOW he will hit 40 homers
4. Jason Giambi – This is what I really love, all 4 players feel like a nice addition, Giambi is 4th on my list, CAN NOT play the field or run at all but man does he have some nice power for the middle of our lineup.

If there was any truth to going for 2 hitters, give me Rocco. I don’t even want to talk about Anderson or Griffey.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 4, 2009 7:33 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Where was this a few weeks ago?

I remember arguing how Abreu was my #1 choice and getting railed for it…namely that other guys would be cheaper and better. Either way, glad to see others see this too.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 4, 2009 8:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I don't recall anyone railing you.

I played devil’s advocate because I really wanted Bradley, but I thought that was one of the more productive subthreads in recent memory. It really showed the equality of the candidates.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 4, 2009 9:02 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

railing was too harsh of a word

that was too harsh. More like plenty of opposition, but in a devil’s advocate sort of way. I enjoyed that debate, by the way.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jan 4, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Abreu was less attractive when Bradley and Burrell were BOTH still around

now tthat Bradley is gone there is only 1 bat left that I strongly prefer over Abreu, and since we cant bank on getting Burrell now Abreu comes more and more into the picture

by Rays4242 on Jan 4, 2009 11:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

plus his 16 mil price tag was the big deciding factor

good point

oh and I think what RJ said about Abreu and Giambi seeming more like equals a few weeks ago than they do now, is a good point. Giambi has fallen further and further down most Rays fans wishlists ever since teh Joyce trade

by Rays4242 on Jan 4, 2009 11:46 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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